US Military Gives Lockheed Martin $33.7 Million to Develop Nuclear Spacecraft

The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded a $33.7 million contract to Lockheed Martin to develop nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) technologies for spacecraft. The contract is part of the Joint Emergent Technology Supplying On-Orbit Nuclear (JETSON) program, which aims to mature high-power nuclear electric power and propulsion technologies and spacecraft design.

 

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NEP is a type of space propulsion that uses a nuclear reactor to generate electricity, which is then used to power ion thrusters. Ion thrusters are much more efficient than traditional chemical rockets, but they require a lot of power. NEP could enable spacecraft to travel much faster and farther than is currently possible.

 

Lockheed Martin will use the contract to develop a new type of NEP reactor that is more compact and lightweight than previous designs. The company will also develop new ion thrusters and spacecraft designs that can take advantage of NEP's capabilities.

 

The JETSON program is a joint effort between the AFRL and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The program is intended to develop NEP technologies that can be used for both military and civilian spacecraft.

 

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Potential Applications of Nuclear Spacecraft

Nuclear spacecraft could have a wide range of applications, including:

• Military applications: Nuclear spacecraft could be used for a variety of military missions, such as rapid deployment of troops and equipment, space-based surveillance and reconnaissance, and anti-satellite warfare.
• Civilian applications: Nuclear spacecraft could be used for a variety of civilian missions, such as deep space exploration, planetary science missions, and space tourism.

 

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Challenges of Developing Nuclear Spacecraft

There are a number of challenges that need to be addressed before nuclear spacecraft can be widely deployed. These challenges include:

• Safety: Nuclear reactors can be dangerous, and it is important to ensure that they can be operated safely in space.
• Cost: Nuclear spacecraft are likely to be very expensive to develop and build.
• International regulations: There are currently no international regulations governing the use of nuclear reactors in space.

Conclusion

The development of nuclear spacecraft is a complex and challenging task, but it has the potential to revolutionize space travel. The US military's investment in Lockheed Martin's NEP development program is a significant step towards making nuclear spacecraft a reality.

 

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Additional Information

• The US military has a long history of interest in nuclear propulsion for space travel. In the 1960s, the US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the Air Force developed a nuclear rocket engine called NERVA. However, the NERVA program was cancelled in the 1970s due to budget cuts.
• In recent years, there has been a growing interest in NEP for both military and civilian spacecraft. In 2017, NASA announced the Kilopower program, which is developing a small nuclear reactor for space applications.
• In addition to Lockheed Martin, a number of other companies are developing NEP technologies, including Boeing, SpaceX, and General Electric.

Potential Impact of Nuclear Spacecraft

If nuclear spacecraft are successfully developed, they could have a significant impact on space travel. Nuclear spacecraft could enable spacecraft to travel much faster and farther than is currently possible. This could open up new possibilities for both military and civilian space missions.

For example, nuclear spacecraft could be used to transport troops and equipment to Mars in a matter of months, rather than years. Nuclear spacecraft could also be used to send probes to the outer solar system and beyond.

Overall, the development of nuclear spacecraft is a promising new area of space technology research. If successful, nuclear spacecraft could revolutionize the way we travel in space.